JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas –
The 25th Air Force won the JBSA Intramural Volleyball Championship June 2 at the JBSA-Randolph Rambler Fitness Center. The team defeated Brooke Army Medical Center Company D in straight sets 25-17, 25-21 for the championship, five days after claiming their third consecutive JBSA-Lackland Intramural Volleyball title.
They remained undefeated throughout the entire base intramural season, with their base championship earning them a spot in the JBSA playoffs, which included the top two teams from each JBSA location.
Lt. Col. Brian Hinsvark attributes the win to "a little bit of skill, luck and desire to not let a teammate down."
"It definitely wasn't because of our youthful prowess," said Hinsvark, a first-year player.
"We are all competitors at heart, so we are proud to bring both trophies home to the 25th Air Force."
Mark Smith, who has played with the team since 2007, agreed that the team's competitive drive led them to bringing the base-wide trophy to Security Hill, where the unit is located.
"This was not unfamiliar ground for many of us," he said. "Losing to a JBSA-Fort Sam Houston volleyball team (in the 2013 JBSA-wide intramural volleyball tournament) was difficult because our energy levels were down and they outlasted us, so it was nice to bring the title home this year."
"Purpose, passion and persistence" were the keys to 25th AF winning the base-wide championship, according to Carlos Murray, a three-year player on the team. He added that the team understands the importance of elevating individual performance when facing a challenge.
"That is how we conduct our daily business in the intelligence community: We work hard to meet our commitments and achieve victory," Murray explained.
Tenure and cohesiveness have played a role in the team's success throughout the years, Smith and Murray agreed, because most of the players are former active duty members who have made San Antonio their home and have remained physically active.
"The love for the game and volleyball keeps us together," Smith explained. "The intramural programs also reach out to spouses and dependents, which benefits our military organizations and brings us even closer together with the family members from our home lives."
"Being a volleyball player is part of our culture," Murray added. "When you find a group that is willing to be challenged, we stick together, mentor each other, and refer to each other."